Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.A.

Saint Louis University's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in speech-language pathology. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). It is a two-year, six-semester program which starts in the summer semester. The program is designed to prepare professionals to provide evidence-based high-quality services to persons with communication and swallowing disorders. A focus of the program is to develop clinicians who are prepared to serve culturally and linguistically diverse populations across the life span.

Students must have a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders or speech-language pathology to apply to the graduate program. Students interested in the communication sciences and disorders graduate degree that have a bachelor's degree in a different discipline can complete the SLU CSD Leveling Option before applying.

SLU's Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a two-year graduate program with a typical class size of 30 to 40 students. Over the past three years, the program’s graduation rate is 97%, while the Praxis pass rate and the employment rate of the graduating class is 99%. Graduate students will complete a clinical practicum in each term; the program is six semesters, including two summers, and students begin the program in the summer semester.

Curriculum Overview
SLU's Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program is six semesters, including two summers. Students begin in the summer.

All graduate students must complete 60 credits, including a required clinical practicum each term. Research students will also complete a thesis for six elective credits.

Students must enroll in five terms (semester or summer) of zero-credit clinical practicum during their study. Additionally, six credits of off-campus clinical practice are completed during the last semester of study.

Other required courses include:

• Research for the Clinician
• Speech Disorders in Children
• Social Communication Development and Disorders
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Early Childhood Language Disorders
• School-Age Language Disorders
• Fluency Disorders
• Dysphagia
• Voice Disorders
• Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies
• Neurogenic Communication Disorders in Adults
• Motor Speech Disorders
• Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
• Cognitive Communication Disorders

CSD Graduate Handbook

Clinical and Research Opportunities

A major strength of SLU's M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders is the wide variety of clinical practicum experiences available to graduate students. The department has strong working relationships with hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities and community clinics in St. Louis and surrounding areas.

Clinical Practicum Sites

Students will experience at least three separate off-campus clinical placements, often obtaining 50 clinical hours or more at each site. Additionally, students gain experience in SLU's Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic. During their last semester, students are ready for a full-time internship, consisting of placements in both medical and educational settings. Students typically obtain considerably more than the minimum clock hours required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and are well-prepared to begin their professional careers.

Careers

Graduates have gone on to careers at public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, clinics, private practices and universities. Speech-language pathology is rated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the fastest-growing professions in the country — it’s predicted to grow 27% by 2028. The median annual salary for a speech-language pathologist in 2018 was $75,510.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in communication science and disorders or have successfully completed the prerequisite courses in the field.

Individuals with a bachelor's degree in a different discipline are not eligible for admission into the graduate program until completion of the undergraduate prerequisite courses. Students may be eligible for admission into the communication sciences and disorders leveling program.

Students must meet clinical practicum eligibility requirements for participation in the required clinical practicum.

Application Requirements

• Application through CSDCAS. (The SLU CSDCAS code is 4621)
• GRE – General scores
• Three letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Professional goal statement
• Visit (encouraged)

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Assistantship Application Deadline

Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their application by Feb. 1.

Review Process

The department admissions committee will begin the review of the applications after the Feb. 1 deadline. Each application and supporting materials are comprehensively reviewed for admission consideration.

Students who are offered admission to the program will receive an assistantship application at the time of their acceptance notification.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders adheres to the national deadline of April 15 to extend offers of admission to applicants as set forth by American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Council of Graduate Schools.

Leveling Option

The leveling option is designed for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology and who already have a baccalaureate degree in a different discipline. The curriculum (33 credits) of the leveling option is based on the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders undergraduate curriculum and is designed to provide the courses necessary to apply to a graduate program in one of these professions. 

Curriculum Plan

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by Feb. 1. 

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.  

Accreditation

The master’s program with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders education program in speech-language pathology at Saint Louis University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 220 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
http://caa.asha.org

For more information about the SLU Communication Sciences and Disorders program Student Outcomes Data (completion rates, Praxis exam pass rates and employment rates), CAA complaint policy and additional accreditation information, please see Student Outcome Data and Additional Accreditation Information below.

Student Outcome Data and Additional Accreditation Information

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate compassionate ethical behavior during clinical practice.
2. Graduates will be able to apply clinical reasoning to effectively address the communication needs across the lifespan.
3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective interactions with others during academic discourse.
4. Graduates will be able to fulfill clinical responsibilities in a professional manner.
5. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to evaluate appropriate information from various sources to effectively implement evidence-based practice.

Students in the communication sciences and disorders master's program take the following courses. 

Students must complete Clinical Practicum (CSDI 5010 Clinical Practicum Lecture (0 cr)) for five semesters. In the last semester, students complete a 16-week full-time externship, either in an educational setting or in a medical setting (CSDI 5030 Student Teaching in Communication Sciences and Disorders (1-6 cr) and CSDI 5910 Clinical Internship (1-6 cr)).

It is a requirement of the communication sciences and disorders graduate program that all students complete a course in Aural Rehabilitation and Neurological Bases of Communication. Students who have not had these courses as an undergraduate will need to take them in the graduate program in addition to the master’s program requirements. These would be required courses rather than electives.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

Electives: Six credits of electives are required. Thesis credits meet the elective requirements.

All graduate students must complete 60 credits: 43 credits academic and 17 credits of clinical practicum.

Students are required to enroll in one of the clinical practicum courses every semester.

It is a requirement of the communication sciences and disorders graduate program that all students complete a course in Aural Rehabilitation and Neurological Bases of Communication. Students who have not had these courses as an undergraduate will need to take them in the graduate program in addition to the master’s program requirements.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions please contact:
Julie Miller
Recruitment Specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu